The Destiny of the Wicked and of the Good
1Don't be worried on account of the wicked;
don't be jealous of those who do wrong.
2They will soon disappear like grass that dries up;
they will die like plants that wither.
3Trust in the LORD and do good;
live in the land and be safe.
4Seek your happiness in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desire.
5Give yourself to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will help you;
6he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.
7Be patient and wait for the LORD to act;
don't be worried about those who prosper
or those who succeed in their evil plans.
8Don't give in to worry or anger;
it only leads to trouble.
9Those who trust in the LORD will possess the land,
but the wicked will be driven out.
10Soon the wicked will disappear;
you may look for them, but you won't find them;
11the humble will possess the land
and enjoy prosperity and peace.
12The wicked plot against good people
and glare at them with hate.
13But the Lord laughs at wicked people,
because he knows they will soon be destroyed.
14The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows
to kill the poor and needy,
to slaughter those who do what is right;
15but they will be killed by their own swords,
and their bows will be smashed.
16The little that a good person owns
is worth more than the wealth of all the wicked,
17because the LORD will take away the strength of the wicked,
but protect those who are good.
18The LORD takes care of those who obey him,
and the land will be theirs for ever.
19They will not suffer when times are bad;
they will have enough in time of famine.
20But the wicked will die;
the enemies of the LORD will vanish like wild flowers;
they will disappear like smoke.
21The wicked borrow and never pay back,
but good people are generous with their gifts.
22Those who are blessed by the LORD will possess the land,
but those who are cursed by him will be driven out.
23The LORD guides people in the way they should go
and protects those who please him.
24If they fall, they will not stay down,
because the LORD will help them up.
25I am old now; I have lived a long time,
but I have never seen good people abandoned by the LORD
or their children begging for food.
26At all times they give freely and lend to others,
and their children are a blessing.
27Turn away from evil and do good,
and your descendants will always live in the land;
28for the LORD loves what is right
and does not abandon his faithful people.
He protects them for ever,
but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.
29The righteous will possess the land
and live in it for ever.
30The words of good people are wise,
and they are always fair.
31They keep the law of their God in their hearts
and never depart from it.
32Wicked people watch good people
and try to kill them;
33but the LORD will not abandon them to their enemy's power
or let them be condemned when they are on trial.
34Put your hope in the LORD and obey his commands;
he will honour you by giving you the land,
and you will see the wicked driven out.
35I once knew a wicked and ruthless person;
he towered over everyone like a cedar of Lebanon;
36but later I passed by, and he wasn't there;
I looked for him, but couldn't find him.
37Notice good people, observe the righteous;
peaceful people have descendants,
38but sinners are completely destroyed,
and their descendants are wiped out.
39The LORD saves the righteous
and protects them in times of trouble.
40He helps them and rescues them;
he saves them from the wicked,
because they go to him for protection.
